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Benny Golson: From Jazz to Hollywood and Back

Saxophone player Benny Golson played with jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey, and wrote music for the TV shows M*A*S*H and Mission Impossible.

Benny Golson: From Jazz to Hollywood and Back

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2009: The Year Of Living Improvisationally
courtesy of the artist

The Best Music Of 2009

2009: The Year Of Living Improvisationally

WBGO

With many hundreds of new recordings each year, jazz maintains a lot of biodiversity in its tiny ecosystem. Chances are, it's got something for everyone, but finding the right fit is like searching for an ant in the jungle; it's never an easy quest, but when it happens, you'll likely find an entire colony. Here are the 10 finest jazz records of 2009, as chosen by WBGO's Josh Jackson.

The 'Class Presidents' Of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers

The band led by drummer Art Blakey (center) groomed more than 150 alumni members, including saxophonist Wayne Shorter and trumpeter Lee Morgan. Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images hide caption

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Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images

A Blog Supreme

The 'Class Presidents' Of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers

WFIU

From the mid-'50s to 1990, the drummer's band served as a finishing school for elite jazz musicians. Here are five of the distinguished alumni of Blakey's university of the streets, including Horace Silver, Terence Blanchard and Wayne Shorter.

Five Jazz Songs Of The Freedom Struggle

Gary Bartz performs at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival. The saxophonist is often cited as a messenger of black empowerment in music. David Redfern/Redferns hide caption

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David Redfern/Redferns

A Blog Supreme

Five Jazz Songs Of The Freedom Struggle

For the annual celebration of Juneteenth, today's jazz luminaries — musicians such as Jason Moran, Christian McBride, Orrin Evans, Jeremy Pelt and Bobby Watson — reflect on recordings about the ongoing process of African-American emancipation.

Review

Basic Jazz Record Library

Art Blakey: 'The Best of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers'

Art Blakey was one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time. He employed his powerful, rhythmic playing in the "hard bop" — or East Coast — style of jazz. His trademark was the forceful closing of the high-hat on every second and fourth beat. This album illustrates his unique style.

Art Blakey: 'The Best of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers'

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A Hard Look At Hard Bop

With many young talents under his tutelage, Art Blakey has often been called the father of hard bop. David Referns/Redferns hide caption

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David Referns/Redferns

Take Five: A Jazz Sampler

A Hard Look At Hard Bop

90.5 WESA

Evolving out of 1950s bebop, hard bop incorporates elements of gospel, soul and R&B. One of the style's biggest supporters, Blue Note Records, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. And while jazz has progressed since then, hard bop is still heard in many modern jazz recordings. Hear five classics.

Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger, Jazz Mentor

Art Blakey counts Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and Terence Blanchard among his Jazz Messengers alumni. And that's the short list. Roland Godefroy hide caption

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Roland Godefroy

Take Five: A Jazz Sampler

Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger, Jazz Mentor

Jazz24

Ninety years ago, one of the greatest bandleaders and drummers in jazz was born in Pittsburgh, Penn. That man was Art Blakey. For more than 30 years, he led The Jazz Messengers, a band which became a sort of graduate school and springboard for some of the greatest jazz players of all time.

A Blog Supreme

Judging By The Cover: 'United'

When it comes to prolific artists like Art Blakey, it can be easy to overlook a classic. Blakey had so many studio recordings and live albums with The Jazz Messengers that it can be difficult to parse which are the the ones worth hearing. So somet...

Judging By The Cover: 'United'

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